11 Tricks & Tips For Mowing Your Lawn

13 May 11 Tricks & Tips For Mowing Your Lawn

Mowing your lawn, when first starting out can be a tricky task in hand. Luckily, there is a range of tips & tricks in order to help smooth the process. In our years of gardening maintenance, we have accumulated a range of techniques & professional tips to make it easier for beginner lawn mowers.

Check out our 11 tips & tricks when mowing your lawn this Summer:

1. Don’t cut the grass too short

Every grass type has an optimal cutting height, and you’re better off on the high side of that height. Here are a few reasons. The grass blade is the food factory of the plant. Short blades just can’t generate as much food as long blades. Long blades also shade and cool the soil.

That means weed seeds are less likely to sprout, and you won’t have to water as often because water won’t evaporate as fast. Not sure what type of grass you have? Take a sample to a garden center for identification.

2. Reduce mowing height gradually

If your lawn is overgrown, gradually reduce it to the correct height over a few mows. Avoid taking too much off the leaf blade in one go as this can stress the grass and it may require additional irrigation to recover. Taking no more then one-third of the blade length each mow is a good general rule.

3. Consistent Lawn Mowing

One common misconception about home lawn maintenance is that grass should be mowed at a preset schedule. In fact, the best routine is to mow your lawn when it’s necessary—not when it’s convenient.

Lawns grow at different rates depending on the season, weather, management, and species. So, how can you tell when it’s necessary to mow your lawn? Follow the “one-third” rule: Simply mow frequently enough so that no more than one-third of the leaf blade is removed in a single mowing.

Removing more of the grass blade than that may stunt root growth. So if your desired lawn height is 3 inches, mow when your grass grows to 4 to 4 1/2 inches tall.

4. The Best Mowing Patterns

Every time that you mow your lawn you, should change directions. This simple but powerful lawn care tip reduces soil compaction and any turf damage from mower wheels. Repeated same-direction mowing causes patterns in areas such as tree rings or median strips because it’s hard to change cut directions in these areas.

As patterns develop, mowers stop adequately cutting the grass and simply push it over, causing it to lie flat on the ground. This reduces the cut quality over time. Alternatively, athletic turf managers can use patterns to create visual stimulation and interest on ball fields—this requires much more lawn maintenance and upkeep that is necessary for a home lawn, however.

5. Mowing Round Garden Objects

Robot lawn mowers will have no problems mowing around most items in your garden. This is because the lawnmower reads a signal which is sent through a wire which runs around the perimeter of the cutting area, and also around any obstacles that are in the middle of the mowing area.

In addition to this, all robotic lawn mowers have built-in sensors which mean that when they encounter an unexpected obstacle, they will stop, back up, turn and move in a different direction. Some newer models are also now incorporating a GPS feature which allows it to more accurately determine it’s location and avoid temporary obstacles and have a greater awareness of the edge of the mowing area.

6. Aerating your lawn

Walking over the lawn and trampling it for years, tighten the soil and take all the air out from the area, that’s why you should aerate your lawn twice a year in both spring and fall. Aerating helps the root system and soil by providing air and water. It also improves nutrients penetration. Aerating is the secret of happy green lawns.

7. Mowing New Grass

Newly-seeded grass needs three to four weeks to get established after germination before you should mow it for the first time. The grass blades are tender and easily damaged and the foot and mower traffic could compact the soil, especially if the soil is moist. Mow when the new grass is 3/4 inch to 1 inch taller than its recommended regular mowing height.

8. Time Your Mowing Just Right

The best time of day to mow is when it’s cool outside, so in the morning or evening. Mowing when it’s cool helps keep moisture in the roots where it’s needed. It also reduces the chance of heat exhaustion.

Still, the evening is preferable to the morning because this gives the grass 12 hours of darkness to heal before the sun comes up. The grass also tends to be dewy or wet from being watered in the morning, and you shouldn’t mow when the grass it wet for your own personal safety and the health of your grass.

9. Look After Your Mower

Before you begin mowing, look for obstructions in the mower’s blade area, particularly if the mower was just purchased. Add a little oil to the moving parts if they feel tight. If the mower is more than a year old, the blades may need to be sharpened, or your lawn will look ragged after you have mowed it. A little known fact is that new mowers have blades that aren’t particularly sharp. A new mower will perform much better if the blade is sharpened before its first use.

Some people are afraid of the idea of a razor-sharp mower blade, but in fact, a sharp blade cuts more efficiently and therefore is actually safer than a dull blade. It is easy enough to learn how to sharpen mower blades, but if you are unsure, your local hardware store may offer this service or be able to recommend a commercial sharpening service.

A general lawnmower tune-up each spring is a good idea, especially for gasoline-powered mowers.

10. Taking Care of Your Grass Clippings

Leaving your lawn clippings on the ground after mowing can be beneficial because it allows valuable nutrients to return to your lawn. Clippings contain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are natural fertilizers. It’ll also save you time and energy when you’re mowing.

A popular myth is that leaving your clippings on your lawn after mowing can cause thatching. This is a layer of partially decomposed grass and organic matter lying between the soil and grass. As long as you mow regularly and the grass is at the same height, this won’t be a problem as your grass will break down naturally.

11. Do NOT Mow A Wet Lawn

There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t mow your lawn when it’s wet. The disease can be spread through your grass when it’s wet so you need to be aware of any fungi or bacteria in your lawn. Cutting wet grass can also cause problems for your mower by sticking to its undercarriage. A good tip is to give your mower a thorough clean after use. You can also compact your soil when it’s wet, which can cause long-term damage.

If you are going to mow when it’s wet, a good tip is to have your mower blades sharpened. This is because wet grass can shred or tear instead of being cut, which can cause long-term grass damage. You could also raise your mower blades higher so you cut less grass, which will cause fewer problems for your lawn.